Folding level.



A. I. HEISTAD.

FOLDING LEVEL.

APPLIGATION FILED 85H15, 1909.

Patented J an. 4, 1910 wifi/14eme@ AMUND I. HEISTAD, OF FLUSI-IING, NEWYORK.

FOLDING LEVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 4, 1910.

Application led Septemberl 15, 1909. Serial No. 517,954.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, AMUNn I. Hinsrrixn, a subject of the King of Norway,residing at Flushing, in the county of Queens and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Levels, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to instruments of precision, and especially to aleveling device possessing certain novel features of constructionadapting it to be folded into a small compass and to be safely inclosedor` protected from outside damaging influences when folded.

The invention consists of certain novel features hereinafter describedand claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device Ishowing in full lines theposition when extended ready for use and in dotted lines differentfolded positions; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a transverse detail on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. lis a fragmentary plan view of one of the end members.

Throughout the following detail description and on the several figuresof the drawings similar parts are referred to by like referencecharacters.

The invention comprises a body 10, of any suitable construction ormaterial, usually made of wood and trimmed with metal plates. Suchplates are indicated at 11 at the ends of the body. The body also is provided as usual with pne or more spirit glasses 12 at its ends and aspirit glass 13 along one edge. The plates 11, as indicated in Fig. 2,are arranged flush with the sides of the body 10, providing a plane facethroughout the entire extent of each side of said body. In order toprovide that the body may not be of excessive length and yet to insureprecise operation thereof in use and to this end provide for a longinstrument, one or both ends of the body are fittedl with foldingextensions 141: and 15. Each end of the body, preferably in the regionof the plates 11, is provided with a slot 16 extending transversely tothe rear or back edge 10 of the body. Each of the extensions is securedin place by means of a locking bolt 17 passed through the side wings 18of the extension and through said slot the bottom or rear edge 14e or 15of the respective extensions terminates short of the ends of the wingsand abnts against the end of the said body edge 10 when the device is inextended position. The wings 1S being slightly iexible provide for aproper positive clamping thereof against the plates l1 through thelocking bolt and thumb nut 17. i

As indicated in dash lilies in Fig. 1 the end members 14 and 15 areadapted to be folded upon the outer or upper edge of the body, thelatter mentioned member being foldable upon the outside of the former.In order to provide for such folding the member 15 may be suiicientlywider than the member 14. One purpose of the slots 1G is to enable thelocking bolts 17 to be set closely adjacent to the rear or bottom edge10 of the device when in use and yet to permit the folding of the endmembers as above indicated by loosening said bolts and sliding themalong the slots.

In some'instances it may be desirable to fold one of the members uponone edge of the body and` the other upon the opposite edge, as indicatedin dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, whereby both edges of the body will beeffectively protected when in folded position, and may thus beIsubjected to rough usage in a tool box or the like without seriousdanger of damage to the instrument. In order to cause the extension 15to assume this latter position it is necessary merely that the lockingbolt 17 be removed, permitting the extension 15 to be moved aroundbodily instead of swinging upon the bolt as a pivot. The bolt may thenbe replaced to secure the device in folded position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a spirit level, the combination of a `body having spirit glasses,a pair of foldable end extensions for the body, each of said extensionshaving side wings embraciiig the adjacent end of the body, a slot beingformed in each end of the body and extending substantially at rightangles to the rear edges thereof, and a locking bolt.passed through eachpair of extension wings and the adjacent slot, substantially as setforth.

2. In a spirit level, the combination of a body having one or morespirit glasses secured therein, a pair of end extensions, each having arear or bottom portion adapted to abut against the adjacent end of thebody and also having a pair of wings embracing said end, each of saidendsbeng provided In testimony whereof I affix my signature with a. slotextending transversely thereof, in presence of two Witnesses. said endextensions being foldable upon one l ,XMUND I HEISTAD edge of the body,one on the outside of the other, and looking bolts passed through the tVtHesseS:

respective pairs of Wings and slots, substan- ELIHU F. HARRIS, tially assetforth. HARRY B. PEARE.

